Grammys 2026 stage by Yellow Studio features modern sculptural gramophone

The stage and scenography for the Grammy Awards ceremony in LA this coming weekend is designed by New York-based Yellow Studio and anchored by a giant golden gramophone.

The Recording Academy's annual celebration of musical achievement, which takes place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on 1 February 2026, is Yellow Studio's fifth production design for the Grammys.

The main stage design revolves around an enlarged, abstracted gramophone – the analog record playing device that's depicted in the logo for the awards and as the trophy given to winners.

"The bold statement in the set is a modern sculptural version of the gramophone, sitting in the middle of the stage," Yellow Studio founder and production designer Julio Himede, and creative director Damun Jawanrudi, told Dezeen. "This set piece communicates to the viewers they are watching The Grammys."

The gramophone horn's funnel-like shape becomes a golden tunnel from which artists and presenters emerge, and forms a glowing halo behind those at the mic.

On either side, a long lozenge-shaped screen extends the length of the stage to present a range of visuals, from music video clips to audience cutaways.

Another raised, circular podium in the centre of the nominee area also provides a stage for the host and the performers to use as desired.

The surrounding seating is designed to evoke a cafe, with small tables and sets of chairs that allow movement in between – both for the host to interact with guests and winners to come to the stage to collect their awards.

"The lounge-cafe style nominee area in front of the main stage has been refined over the last few years and has become a big part of the show, allowing our host Trevor Noah to mingle with the nominees and performers live on camera," the studio said. "This intimate interior setting makes the broadcast compelling, allowing the viewer to feel close and personal with the artists."

Yellow Studio chose a warm terracotta palette composed of multiple hues, ranging from lighter clay and blush to darker rust and burnt sienna.

The colours extend to the custom-printed carpet and seating, as well as tables with faux-marble tops and gold detailing.

Domed milk-glass table lamps were created for the event by Jeff Andrews Design in collaboration with Studio M and add to the cafe-style ambience.

"Together, the chosen materiality and palette create an interior environment feeling less like a stage and more like a living space celebrating the best music," Himede and Jawanrudi said.

One of the biggest challenges is to keep audiences emotionally engaged with the artists on stage over the course of a three-hour broadcast.

"The connection between the viewer, either watching on their devices or live in the room, needs to continue throughout the show," said the designers. "Our set evolves through colour and lighting, and most artists in the show have very distinctive creatives supporting their performance."

Yellow Studio also collaborated with British content company Hello Charlie on the event's graphic design language, to "create a seamless visual language between the interiors and what's shown on the screens".

The set design for high-profile award shows has a huge impact on each event, and Dezeen has covered several over the years.

For example, Es Devlin's Grammys stage set for Katy Perry's performance in 2017 featured a picket fence that turned into "divisive wall", while David Rockwell's "intimate and grand" Oscars set in 2021 recalled the glamour of early ceremonies.

The photography is by Kristina Bakrevski.

The post Grammys 2026 stage by Yellow Studio features "modern sculptural" gramophone appeared first on Dezeen.